Miami (FL) Hands # 11 Clemson 7-6 Defeat to Take Series Sunday

April 1, 2007

Clemson, SC –

Yonder Alonso had two hits and two RBIs to lead Miami (FL) to a 7-6 win over #11 Clemson in front of 4,208 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Sunday. With the win, the Hurricanes won the series 2-1. Miami also improved to 17-13 overall and 5-7 in the ACC. Clemson fell to 18-9 overall, 5-4 in ACC play.

The Hurricanes totaled 13 hits and six RBIs, five of which came with two outs. They were led offensively by Alonso, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks. Ryan Jackson had three hits for the Hurricanes, and Gus Menendez hit a clutch two-out, two-run single in the seventh. Nine different Hurricanes had at least one hit as well.

The Tigers were led offensively by Addison Johnson, who had three hits and two RBIs. Doug Hogan had two hits as well.

Senior reliever Danny Gil (1-0) allowed only one run on four hits with one strikeout in 3.2 innings pitched in relief to earn the win. Tiger reliever Matt Zoltak (1-2) suffered the loss, as he allowed two runs on three hits in 0.1 innings pitched.

The Tigers scratched in the bottom of the second on an RBI single to right-center by Hogan, forcing the Hurricanes to play from behind early for the third straight game.

But Miami came right back with a run in the top of the fourth after Dave DiNatale plated Mark Sobolewski on an RBI single to center.

The Tigers quickly responded with one run in the bottom of the fourth, as Marquez Smith led off with a single up the middle and reached second on a wild pitch. Tim Morris grounded out to shortstop, as Smith advanced to third base. Smith then scored on a balk.

Jackson led off the top of the fifth with an infield single. Blake Tekotte reached on a fielder’s choice to the pitcher, but Kopp’s throw to second was errant. Roger Tomas laid down a bunt single to third base to load the bases with no outs. Alonso then drew a walk to score Jackson. Sobolewski grounded into a double play that scored Tekotte. Dennis Raben then doubled to right-center, scoring Tomas and putting the Hurricanes on top 4-2.

Clemson scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to even the score. Johnson highlighted the scoring with an RBI double off the left-field fence that scored J.D. Burgess.

Hogan laid down a bunt single to lead off the sixth inning. Ben Paulsen followed with a double to left-center that scored Hogan and put the Tigers on top, 5-4. During that inning, the teams sat through an 89-minute rain delay. When play resumed, the Tigers had the bases loaded and one out, but could not add to their lead.

The Hurricanes mounted a rally in the seventh inning with two runs on four hits. Tomas, Alonso, and Sobolewski led off the top of the seventh with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases. After Clemson turned a 1-2-3 double play, Menendez lofted a pinch-hit, bloop single to right to score both Alonso and Sobolewsk, giving the Hurricanes the lead 6-5.

Jackson singled to right and advanced to second on a two-out sacrifice bunt by Tekotte in the eighth inning. Tomas drew a walk and Alonso singled to right-center, scoring Jackson.

Clemson responded with one run in the bottom of the eighth. Wilson Boyd singled up the middle to lead off, advanced to second on a groundout, and moved to third on a passed ball. Johnson then drove Boyd home with a single to first base.

The Tigers came up short in the ninth when Taylor Harbin missed a home run to left field just wide of the foul pole.

Andy D’Alessio was taken out of the game after suffering a pulled groin on a slide into second base in the second inning.

Defensively, each team totaled three double plays.

Clemson will travel to Athens, GA to take on Georgia Tuesday at 7:00 PM.